Retainer

Something everybody's had to wear at one time or another, usually to straighten out our inherently bad teeth. A molded piece of plastic that increases plaque buildup on your teeth while slowly and systematically breaking the root system and re-setting it into the proper shape. Some of us still wear them, usually to combat the jaw ailment known as TMJ.

Re*tain"er (?), n.

1.

One who, or that which, retains.

2.

One who is retained or kept in service; an attendant; an adherent; a hanger-on.

3.

Hence, a servant, not a domestic, but occasionally attending and wearing his master's livery.

Cowell.

4.

(Law) (a) The act of a client by which he engages a lawyer or counselor to manage his cause. (b) The act of withholding what one has in his hands by virtue of some right. (c) A fee paid to engage a lawyer or counselor to maintain a cause, or to prevent his being employed by the opposing party in the case; -- called also retaining fee.

Bouvier. Blackstone.

5.

The act of keeping dependents, or the state of being in dependence.

Bacon.

© Webster 1913.